Dossier de Presse Maxima 2010

2010 Nissan Maxima Overview

The True "4-Door Sports Car" Premium Performance Sedan Returns With More Standard Interior Features Than Ever

The 2010 Maxima will again be offered as one well-equipped model, Maxima 3.5 SV and is scheduled to arrive at Nissan dealers nationwide in early Fall 2009.

After a complete re-design in 2009, the 2010 Maxima returns with just minor revisions to its interior. These enhancements include a standard 7” colour monitor, 2GB hard drive music box, USB input, an Auxiliary Audio/Video input jack and iPod Net in centre console. Also new for 2010 are available features including DVD Playback capability, 4x higher screen resolution, and Bluetooth® with Streaming Audio.

Aggressive Design Adds a “Wow” Factor to the Sedan Category
While seeking to create a simple-yet-strong presence, the designers of the Maxima’s exterior also wanted to re-assert Maxima’s breakthrough personality – establishing a “wow” level of style that would clearly distinguish it from segment competitors.

The exterior design theme for the Maxima is “Liquid Motion” – focusing on the flow of its powerful and beautiful surfaces, like the undulation of a wave. The look starts with Maxima’s aggressive stance and powerful fender volume, which is not unlike many exotic sports cars on the market today. This deeply sculpted body/fender treatment is seldom used for mass market vehicles because of the engineering and manufacturing complexity required to physically accomplish it.

Maxima’s aggressive look also comes in part from its GT-R style front end or “face.” Large, wraparound L-shaped headlights add a unique dimension to the overall design, while the light surrounds suggest a powerful “turbine” appearance of energy and strength. The upturned headlight shape combines with a wide grille, large bumper opening and bulging “catamaran-style” hood to give Maxima a formidable expression, setting the tone for the rest of the vehicle.

The powerful Maxima form continues along its profile, with careful layering of the bumper, hood and fender parting lines. The polished, elegant motion spreads from the deep-waisted rear fenders through distinctive Maxima-style C-pillars and high trunk lid.

Maxima’s dynamic performance stance is accented by 18-inch and available 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, both of which feature a new finish for 2010. Another styling feature is the available Dual Panel Moonroof, which is traditionally offered only in luxury segments. The Dual Panel Moonroof includes a front section that moves like a normal moonroof (positioned farther forward than typical), with a very wide opening to provide an open-air motoring feeling. There is also a fixed translucent rear section that provides light to rear seat passengers. The overall design gives the appearance that the entire roof is composed of black glass. The Dual Panel Moonroof includes dual power sunshades for both the front and rear glass sections, adding a level of convenience.

At the rear, Maxima features a 12-LED L-shaped taillight design, with a pair of side marker bulbs for added visibility during night driving. Maxima is available in a choice of nine exterior colours: Satin White, Ebony, Ink blue, Sonoma Sunset, Silver Mist, Mystic Jade, Niagara grey, as well as Crimson Black and Ocean Grey which are newly added for 2010.

Leading-Edge Sports Sedan Performance Platform
In creating driving performance worthy of Nissan’s flagship, the Maxima’s body and chassis engineering teams worked together to create a secure feeling, virtually no torque steer during acceleration and a level of nimbleness that ultimately makes a car fun to drive.

The 2010 Maxima has a wheelbase of 2776 mm, overall length of 4841 mm and a width of 1859 mm. Features of the “D platform” include the use of aluminum suspension links, suspension geometry, technology shocks, revised steering and suspension geometries, a lower engine mounting and application of the Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission), all of which contribute to minimal torque steer and improved handling prowess.

All 2010 Maximas come equipped with a revised Xtronic CVT™ with manual mode, tuned specifically for Maxima’s sporty driving character. The Maxima development team finessed the previous CVT design to improve responsiveness and strike a balance between sport and comfort, ultimately creating a transmission that provides a true synergy between engine and transmission, along with smooth, responsive and efficient operation.

For drivers seeking the utmost in vehicle control, a “Ds mode” (drive sport) is also available. “Ds mode” is an electronic control logic that enhances sport driving through increased acceleration feel with higher engine revolutions, automatic engine braking and maintaining engine speed during cornering.

Ds mode takes advantage of the CVT’s infinite selections of available gear ratios and is able to select the right gear, the right time, all the time. This enhances the emotional, sporty feel while driving on canyon roads or city streets. Whether it is upshifting through the gears while accelerating, or automatic engine braking (downshifting) when coming into a corner, Ds mode is able to match vehicle speed and engine rpm with the driver’s intended acceleration input.

Ds mode, combined with the sound creator, creates an emotional experience not available on any other CVT vehicle. Available paddle shifters, mounted on the steering column, allow manual transmission shift changes for varying scenarios – such as winding roads – while the driver’s hands remain on the wheel for optimum vehicle control.

Maxima’s multi-link, subframe-mounted independent rear suspension design offers outstanding handling by minimizing camber change during cornering. The rear shock absorbers and springs are separated for minimized friction and the shocks are in line with the centre of the rear wheels, providing excellent damping and minimal harshness. Front and rear stabilizer bars are standard.

Braking is provided by standard 4-wheel disc brakes with a 4-channel, 4-sensor, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). The system features new vented rear disc brakes with larger rear rotors (versus the previous generation Maxima) and a variable ratio linkage for a secure feel.

The 2010 Maxima also features a Twin Orifice Power Steering (TOPS) vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system, similar to that utilized on the Nissan 370Z. The system features high accuracy gear, which is designed to offer improved high performance response, along with ease of driving at low speeds and a stable feel at high speed. Maxima has the quickest steering ratio of any Nissan sedan (15.2:1) to help provide its sporty steering feel. A new strut tower brace also contributes to Maxima’s improved steering precision and rigidity.

“With Maxima’s engine horsepower and torque, CVT programming and ‘Ds mode,’ we expect the Maxima to be among the best performers in class in terms of acceleration and driving feel,” said Forsyth. “Add in its tuned performance exhaust, the virtual lack of torque steer, nimble handling, controlled body movements and linear steering and braking feel, and Maxima stands out as the most exciting and exhilarating performance sedan in class.”

“Super Cockpit” Interior
The challenge in designing a true sports sedan is creating an attractive, intimate, sporty cockpit feel for the driver without compromising the traditional sedan attributes of passenger comfort, roominess and utility. Maxima’s interior design team developed an interior concept of “Super Cockpit, but with Space” – the feeling of a sports car with controls ergonomically close, yet with ample roominess and comfort for both driver and passengers. Key design words emphasized during development were “impressive and silky,” “high touch,” “craftsmanship” and “high tech.”

To enhance the “cockpit feel” of the Maxima’s interior, the centre console is raised and a premium quality feel is provided through the extensive use of soft touch materials, as well as soft, deep pads where an arm or elbow may rest. The high quality feeling is also expressed with “Daytime Illumination” electroluminescent meters, with a special tilting of the tachometer so engine redline is placed at the 12 o’clock position, and extensive use of chrome surrounds for the gauges, vent rings, vent knobs and audio switches.

Maxima’s driver’s seat, or “the Chair” includes a manual thigh extension for long distance driving, additional support in the side bolsters for good lateral support during sporty driving, as well as added seat height adjustability. Maxima’s seat height was lowered 0.8 inches (at its lowest setting) for the 2009 redesign, which enhanced the sporty driver’s feel. The seat is also heated with available cooling function and premium leather-appointed surfaces with special stitching and there is also a power lower lumbar and available memory function.

The 2010 Maxima is available with two different rear seat layouts – a 60/40 fold-down rear seat with access to the trunk, and a fixed rear seat with centre armrest pass-through for carrying long items such as skis or other sporting equipment. Two interior colours are offered for 2010 - Café Latté and Charcoal.

Comfort and convenience features include an iPod Net in the centre console standard on all models, as well as standard moonroof, 8-way power driver’s seat and 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control with illuminated steering wheel mounted controls, Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, power windows and door locks, an advanced Bose® premium audio system with 9 speakers (including two subwoofers and a centre channel speaker), speed-sensitive volume control and Radio Data System (RDS), Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System and a USB input with iPod® compatibility.

Building on the Sport Package is the available Tech Package, which includes an HDD Navigation System with Voice Recognition and Touch Screen. The Tech Package also includes Canada and U.S. Map Data, DVD playback capability, Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, 9.3 GB Music Box and rearview monitor.

The Premium Package includes 18” Alloy Wheels, Dual Panel Moonroof and power retractable sunshades, Fold-Down Rear Seat Armrest with Audio and HVAC Controls, Heated / Cooled Driver’s seats, power rear window sunshade, One-Touch Auto Up/Down Window Control (Front and rear), Premium Mood Light, Eucalyptus wood-tone trim, and RearView Monitor. The Navigation Package is also available and contains the features of the Technology Package.

The 2010 Maxima comes equipped with standard Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage front supplemental air bags, front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags for chest protection and roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear outboard occupant head protection.

Also standard are front-seat Active Head Restraints, 3-point rear seat belts for all seating positions, front seat belts with adjustable upper anchors, pretensioners and load limiters, emergency inside trunk release, Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The 2010 Maxima also features a standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS).